Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coaliton Minutes

Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition
117 North Division Street
Ann Arbor, Michigan
734/487-9058
www.wbwc.org

WBWC Meeting Minutes – March 6, 2003

1. Call to order 7:05pm. Attending: Tim Athan, Rebecca Kanner, Bob Krzewinski, Jim Nieters
Kris Talley.

2. Approval of previous meeting minutes: Approved.

3. Treasurers report: Treasurer is absent, but gave a written report. The Board approved funding for Get Out And Bike! Week street banner displays (two at $25), bicycle education videos/printouts as requested by Ken Clark ($90) and for an Ann Arbor library rental fee ($125) for the Get Out And Bike! Week Wednesday night bicycle forum.

4. WBWC General Business
a. Membership outreach/renewals: Membership renewals are still coming in slowly. A special appreciation was given to those sending in supporting memberships, such as Ken Clark ($500) and Fred Bach ($100). Also discussed was a possible water bottle to be given as a membership benefit.

5. Actions
A. WBWC 2003 Bicycling/Walking Project Priorities

1.Non-Motorized Coordinators - Setting up a meeting with the City of Ann Arbor Alternative Transportation Coordinator was discussed and Bob Krzewinski will research. Bob Krzewinski also reported on his telephone conversation with the head of the University of Michigan Transportation Department, which was very positive. A list of suggested non-motorized projects was sent to the Transportation Department and a future meeting is planned, of which other WBWC Board members and officers would be kept informed.

2. Argo Pond Pathway - Nothing new to report but is was suggested that this topic be a subject at the May Get Out And Bike! Week Wednesday night forum.

3. Road Shoulder Paving - Kris Talley, project coordinator, will be contacting the Washtenaw County Road Commission in the near future, with a suggestion given to work through Roy Townsend, head Engineer with the Commission who is familiar with non-motorized activities. Also, the WBWC was informed of the Michigan Rails To Trails Conservancy project to survey all Michigan counties to see if they are spending the required 1% of their federal transportation funding for non-motorized projects.

4. Get Out And Bike Week/Bike To Work Day - Plans for this week long activity were discussed by project coordinator Rebecca Kanner. Also during this time, Jim Nieters gave an update on a trial one-day/morning lane closure of Huron River Drive, combined with a possible cleanup of the road.

B. Education/Outreach
1.Earth Day- The WBWC has a reservation for an information table for Earth Day events at Washtenaw Community College (4/17 - 9am to 4pm) and Ann Arbor (4/27 - 1pm to 5pm at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market). Bob Krzewinski will send out a request for volunteers for both events.

2. Street Smarts Distribution - Bob Krzewinski reported receiving shipment, through a grant from the Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society. A sticker noting the donation, and the AABTS as well as WBWC, needs to be attached to the booklets and the suggestion was to complete this task at/before/after the next WBWC meeting.

C. WBWC Newsletter Articles - Bob Krzewinski requested that articles be submitted for the next edition of the WBWC Newsletter which will be sent out in mid/late March

D. Walk To Lunch Day - Bob Krzewinski reported on, and passed around information, on National Walk To Lunch Day in early May. Suggestions were made that at least for 2002, the WBWC could issue press releases on the day, and expand the project in 2003.

E. Other - The annual Ann Arbor Green Fair was discussed with plans for the WBWC to again participated, possibly running a free, supervised bicycle parking area during the hours of the event. Also discussed was the reissue of a WBWC endorsement, requested by the governing body of the Hudson Mills Metropark for a new non-motorized trail at that park. Finally, Rebecca Kanner spoke of a possible need to move the WBWC reference library from the Ecology Center to another location.

6. The meeting was adjourned at 8:09pm.